School head under probe over racist remarks
“Pelajar-pelajar Cina tidak diperlukan dan boleh balik ke China ataupun Sekolah Foon Yew. Bagi pelajar India, tali sembahyang yang diikat di pergelangan tangan dan leher pelajar nampak seakan anjing dan hanya anjing akan mengikat seperti itu.”
By Student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, Kulai
(The Star) KULAIJAYA: Police are investigating a school principal who allegedly used racist remarks against non-Malay students during a Merdeka celebration at the school here recently.
Kulaijaya deputy OCPD Asst Supt Mohd Kamil said police had received 12 reports against the principal since Saturday and that the case was being investigated under Section 504 of the Penal Code.
Over 50 parents and students had lodged the reports against the principal, who allegedly described the non-Malays as “penumpang” (passengers) in the country during her speech at the start of the celebration on Aug 12.
“I was shocked that my principal had used such a word against non-Malay students in our school.
“This is not the first time that she had made racist comments against Chinese and Indian students in our school,” said 17-year-old student Brevia Pan.
She added that the principal, who joined the school early this year, would only target Chinese and Indian students.
“During the Merdeka celebration, she had told non-Malay students to go study in a Chinese school or go back to China,” she told reporters in a press conference organised by Senai assemblyman Ong Kow Meng.
Another student, Ashvini Thi-nakaran, 17, said many Malay students were influenced by the principal’s remarks and made similar comments and called them names.
“Before she came to my school, all the students got along well,” she said. Her father R. Thinakaran, 47, said this was a serious matter and that principals should not behave like this.
“This principal has caused racial disharmony at the school,” he said, adding that if no action was taken, he would take his daughter out of the school.
Ong called for stern action against the principal, adding that such school heads and educators would affect the minds of students.
